health | LocalGov


Hunger costs put severe strain on public services 29/04/2025 Public services are under £13.7bn worth of pressure due to the Government’s negligence in addressing hunger and hardship, according to anti-poverty charity.
NHS contract proposals pledge 'greater control' for ICBs 15/04/2025 New proposals by NHSE pledge to give ICBs greater control over NHS contract activity.
Matrix Workforce Management Solutions Appoints Andrew Curry as Client Engagement Director for Health and Social Care 09/04/2025 Matrix, a leader in Workforce Management Solutions, has announced the appointment of Andrew Curry as Client Engagement Director for Health and Social Care.
Councils spend £40m fighting ‘ratflation’ 09/04/2025 Local authority pest control services made nearly 300,000 visits to people’s homes to deal with pest infestations last year at a cost of £40m.
Anti-abortion campaigner fined £20k for ‘buffer zone’ breach 07/04/2025 An anti-abortion campaigner has been given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20,000 to BCP Council for breaching a protest ‘buffer zone’.
Local area partnership promises urgent improvements 03/04/2025 Bracknell Forest Council and NHS Frimley ICB have promised ‘urgent and sustained improvements’ following a critical Ofsted and CQC report.
Croydon woman breaks back after care funding cut 28/03/2025 A woman in Croydon sustained a serious back injury using an NHS bed turning aid after the local authority cut funding for her night-time care.
A national asbestos record could prove positive for councils 26/03/2025 With momentum for a national record of asbestos in public buildings, Nicola Dawn, a Partner at Forbes Solicitors, looks at how this could benefit councils.
Care providers launch legal action over NICs rise 25/03/2025 Care England has launched legal action over the Government’s rise in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for care providers.
Streeting pledges to spend more on social care through NHS 24/03/2025 Social care will receive more funding through the NHS in this spring’s 10-Year Health Plan, the health and social care secretary has revealed.
Council inaction left disabled woman scared she would die 20/03/2025 A disabled Islington woman said she was scared she had been left ‘to die’ after the council took too long to decide what support she should receive.
Government votes to reject health and care NICs exemption 19/03/2025 The Government has voted to reject a Liberal Democrat amendment to exempt health and care providers from a rise in NICs.
New animation raises air quality awareness 17/03/2025 BCP Council is raising awareness of the dangers of air pollution among children across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole using the power of animation.
Prevention services 'at risk' 12/03/2025 Prevention services are ‘at risk' because of rising social care spending, a local government leader has warned.
London’s Ulez delivers ‘substantial’ air quality improvements 07/03/2025 London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) has led to ‘substantial improvements’ in air quality across the capital, new research reveals.
Health and social care facing £457m funding gap in Scotland 06/03/2025 Health and social care finances in Scotland are facing a £457m funding gap in 2024/25, a new report has revealed.
Vent-Axia Publishes Free eBook to Help Social Housing Landlords Navigate Awaab’s Law 05/03/2025 Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has published a free eBook ‘Ensuring Safe Housing Conditions: Focusing on Mould and Damp Conditions’.
Tameside children waiting too long for care reviews 27/02/2025 Tameside Council is taking too long to review children’s education, health and care (EHC) plans, an investigation has found.
Care at home programme to save council £10m 27/02/2025 A programme designed to support people and carers to live healthier and more independent lives is on track to save Somerset Council over £10m.
Hospices set to benefit from £100m boost 26/02/2025 Hospices across England are set to receive £25m of funding for facility upgrades and refurbishments, the Government has confirmed.
Unlock Awaab’s Law compliance with audits 25/02/2025 Validate cleaning performance to ensure healthier living conditions, advises MSL Solution Providers.
Nearly 70,000 children to benefit from free breakfast clubs 24/02/2025 Around 67,000 children from some of the most deprived areas in England are set to receive free school breakfasts.
Government announces 10-year study on youth vaping 19/02/2025 A £62m research project will provide ‘the most detailed picture yet’ of the the long-term health effects of vaping on children, ministers have announced.
Vent-Axia Welcomes Government Setting Date for Awaab’s Law 12/02/2025 Vent-Axia has welcomed the UK Government setting a date of October 2025 for Awaab’s Law to be introduced across the social housing sector.
Data reveals council areas with most fast food outlets 12/02/2025 The London borough of Camden has more fast food outlets per resident than any other local authority area in England, according to new analysis.
Council chiefs warn of ‘stark inequalities’ in oral health 11/02/2025 Local authority leaders have urged the Government to take urgent action to address ‘stark inequalities in oral health’.
McDonald's defeats council efforts to stop branches opening 06/02/2025 McDonald’s has defeated councils’ attempts to stop it opening new branches by claiming the fast-food outlets promote healthier lifestyles, an investigation has revealed.
Councils 'deeply concerned' about trust's performance 06/02/2025 The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) of Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council has written to health and social care secretary Wes Streeting about concerns over the performance of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust (SaTH).
Alcohol-related deaths prompt health funding call 06/02/2025 The number of alcohol-related deaths hit record levels in 2023, prompting council chiefs to call for certainty over funding for public health services.
Call for national health inequalities strategy 04/02/2025 A new Local Government Association report has called on the Government to introduce a national strategy to tackle health inequalities in England.
Children’s Services need support to deal with increasing complexity 03/02/2025 The Government must introduce long-term funding mechanisms for Children’s Services to address increasing complexity and rising demand, a new report says.
Committee ‘disappointed’ after DHSC snubs ICB intervention request 31/01/2025 Oxfordshire's Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee has said it is ‘disappointed’ at the DHSC’s decision not to intervene in the restructuring of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB.
Rising number of child deaths linked to temporary housing 28/01/2025 An estimated 80 children died in temporary accommodation in the year up to 30 September 2024, according to new research.
High Court blocks health benefit cuts 17/01/2025 Cuts to health benefits which were announced by the previous Government, and which are due to take effect in September, are unlawful, High Court rules.
Social care delays leading to ‘dangerously long’ hospital stays 17/01/2025 One in seven hospital beds were occupied last week by patients who were medically fit to be released, but who were forced to wait for care packages.
Social care cannot wait for 2028 reform, report warns 14/01/2025 Social care is on the brink of collapse and cannot wait for Government reform in 2028, a report has warned.
Leeds proposes closing dozens of bowling greens 13/01/2025 Half of the council-run crown bowling greens in Leeds under plans to save nearly £275m over five years.
Use technology to support, smartly 08/01/2025 The national body for home adaptations, Foundations, is urging OTs to optimise the use of technology to support efficiency. AAT is already ahead of the game.
Tackle housing crisis to fix NHS and economy, ministers told 02/01/2025 The Government cannot hope to stabilise the NHS and grow the economy without tackling the crisis of poor-quality housing, a report has warned.
Councils issue just four fines for illegal wood burning 20/12/2024 English councils received more than 5,600 complaints in a year about smoke in smoke control areas but issued just four fines, new data has revealed.
Campaigners warn of ‘vapocalypse’ 16/12/2024 The number of vape products being thrown out or recycled incorrectly every week has risen from five million last year to an estimated 8.2 million.
Regulator to check councils’ asbestos control 06/12/2024 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is set to inspect hundreds of council buildings to check the risk of asbestos is being properly managed.
Government sets out junk food ban legislation 03/12/2024 Junk food ad ban legislation designed to curb childhood obesity has been set out by the Government.
Government to create first ever men’s health strategy 28/11/2024 The Government has committed to creating the first strategy for men’s health – something council bosses have been calling for.
‘Alarming’ rise in OT waiting lists 25/11/2024 Waiting lists for occupational therapy (OT) services have surged by 139% across the UK since 2019, new research has found.
Council fined £500k after dog walker death 11/11/2024 Cheshire East Council has been fined £500,000 after admitting breaches of health and safety legislation that led to a dog walker's death.
Council chiefs call for sugar tax on milkshakes 05/11/2024 Local authority leaders have called for the soft drinks industry levy to be devolved to councils to tackle obesity and to be expanded to milk-based drinks.
EXCLUSIVE: Care homes will close as a result of Budget, leader warns 31/10/2024 A leader has warned that care homes will close as a result of the hike in national insurance announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Autumn Budget.
Budget: £22.6bn rise in day-to-day spending for NHS 30/10/2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £22.6bn rise in the day-to-day health budget, representing 4% average real terms growth.
Five star performance for Everyone Active 28/10/2024 Everyone Active celebrates five awards at ukactive Awards 2024, including top honours for National Centre and Outstanding Organisation of the Year.
Reeves urged to promote prevention spending in Budget 21/10/2024 The chancellor has been urged to use next week’s Autumn Budget to amend fiscal rules to promote spending on prevention.
Streeting promises 10-Year Plan for social care 21/10/2024 Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting has promised a 10-Year Plan for social care that will run alongside the 10-Year Plan for the NHS.
Council apologises after ‘vulnerable’ man left homeless 17/10/2024 Tower Hamlets Council has apologised after it left a vulnerable man with significant care needs unsupported when he was made homeless.
Council landlords struggle with damp and mould 17/10/2024 Seven councils have been named in a housing watchdog's report on severe maladministration in damp and mould complaints.
Councils join project to explore preventative spending 15/10/2024 Four councils have joined a two-year project aimed at coming up with a methodology for calculating and planning for preventive spending.
Council leaders call for Government approval of hospital plans 10/10/2024 Council leaders have called for Government approval of plans for a new hospital ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Why social care isn’t just a discharge service 10/10/2024 Sean Harriss, Senior Advisor at PPL, talks about how viewing social care as a ‘hospital discharge service’ means the value of social care isn’t realised.
Watchdog to investigate death of schoolgirl in mudslide 10/10/2024 The national health and safety regulator has taken over the investigation into how a 10-year-old girl was killed by a mudslide during a school trip.
Council confiscates ‘illicit’ candy ahead of Halloween 09/10/2024 Westminster City Council has incinerated more than 600 illegal items confiscated from an Oxford Street shop in a pre-Halloween candy store raid.
CQC announces new chief executive 07/10/2024 England’s health and social care regulator has announced that Sir Julian Hartley will be appointed as its new chief executive.
ICB opts not to reopen Norfolk reablement centre 01/10/2024 An ICB has decided not to reopen a Norfolk reablement centre despite opposition from local campaigners.
Awaab’s Law: the path to improving indoor air quality 26/09/2024 Alan Siggins, Airflow MD, looks at what councils need to do to improve air quality in social housing in light of Awaab’s Law.
Just one-third of council directors able to invest in preventative services 26/09/2024 Chief executive of ADASS says the need to make over £900m in savings is ‘squeezing' investment in early support for people at home and in the community.
Starmer defeated in winter fuel payment vote 25/09/2024 The Labour leadership has lost a union-sponsored motion at the party’s conference that called on ministers to reverse the cuts to winter fuel payments.
Mayors back Jamie Oliver’s call to ban junk-food advertising 25/09/2024 Nine UK mayors have signed up to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s campaign to ban junk-food advertising.
Care homes invited to adopt AI solutions 24/09/2024 Care homes in Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being invited to take part in an initiative that uses AI to enhance resident monitoring.
Council alters head-bumping event over safety concerns 20/09/2024 A Cornish council has agreed to make changes to a local ceremony dating back to the 16th century over health and safety concerns.
Abortion clinic 'buffer zones' set to come into force 20/09/2024 Safe access buffer zones will be in force around abortion clinics from 31 October, the Home Office has confirmed.
No plans for Manchester CAZ despite illegal pollution 19/09/2024 Greater Manchester has created a new clean air strategy with no plans to charge drivers of polluting vehicles, despite a legal direction to reduce air pollution as quickly as possible.
Think tank calls for health and prosperity improvement zones 17/09/2024 Local authorities should be empowered to create health and prosperity improvement zones modelled on clean air zones, a cross-party commission says.
Darzi review: ‘Extraordinary power in getting public health right’ 12/09/2024 The Government must invest in public health to ease pressure on a health service ‘in critical condition’, according to a damning new review of the NHS.
Stark inequalities leave women in north with ‘heavy burdens’ 04/09/2024 Women in the North of England are more likely to be an unpaid carer than women in other regions of England, a new report on regional inequalities has revealed.
Rural council areas at risk of becoming ‘pharmacy deserts’ 03/09/2024 Nearly nine in 10 council areas in England have seen pharmacies close during the last two years, new research reveals.
Care providers call for reform of hospital discharge process 28/08/2024 Care providers have called on the Government to reform the hospital discharge process.
Council bosses call for men’s health strategy 27/08/2024 The ‘silent health crisis’ facing men in England should be a national concern, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
Safety warning as 75-year-old fills potholes 23/08/2024 A Scottish council has expressed health and safety and insurance concerns after a 75-year-old resident used gardening tools to fill in potholes.
Protecting our health 14/08/2024 Oliver Norman, Regional Vice President for UK & Ireland, Veritas Technologies, looks at why data protection should be a priority for healthcare organisations.
Ombudsman publishes new guidance for housing officers 31/07/2024 The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has published a guide for officers who make decisions on people’s housing needs based on medical assessments.
Reeves scraps care charging reforms amid spending cuts 30/07/2024 Adult social care charging reforms delayed by the Tories will be scrapped, saving over £1bn by the end of next year, chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced.
Believ earns ISO certifications as it continues to commit to quality, safety and environmental best practice 30/07/2024 Believ accredited with ISO certifications which demonstrate the company’s commitment to quality, security, health and safety and environmental best practice.
Social care watchdog ‘not fit for purpose’ 26/07/2024 The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body responsible for regulating adult social care services, is ‘not fit for purpose’, the health secretary says.
Care hit by lack of collaboration 19/07/2024 A lack of collaboration between local government and health services is impacting on people's care, according to a joint report by two watchdogs.
Analysis reveals £30bn funding hole in care reforms 19/07/2024 Council chiefs have called for a delay in the introduction of the cap on adult social care costs, describing it as ‘unfunded’.
Care sector needs 540,000 workers by 2040 18/07/2024 The care sector will need 540,000 additional social care posts by 2040 to cope with the aging population, care workforce body Skills for Care estimates.
King's Speech: Waiting lists, prevention and mental health top health agenda 17/07/2024 Reducing waiting times, prevention and improving mental health provision topped Labour's agenda in today's King's Speech but there were no social care reforms.
Integrated care systems show ‘signs of progress’ but need flexibility 16/07/2024 Integrated care systems (ICSs) are showing ‘signs of progress’ but pressures on health and care services could derail positive gains, health think tank warns.
Councils stuck in social care and hospital ‘doom loop’ 16/07/2024 Over-stretched councils are struggling to meet the increasingly complex social care needs of people being discharged from hospital, a new survey has revealed.
Council helps investigate after two children from same school die 11/07/2024 Liverpool City Council is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) after two children from the same school died.
Local authority third-party spend rises 17% to £83bn 10/07/2024 Local authority third-party spend rose by 17% on 2021 to £82.7bn in 2023, with vulnerable citizens and public health and buildings the largest categories.
Companies banned from performing butt lifts after hospitalisations 05/07/2024 Brentwood Borough Council has launched an investigation after residents who had undergone a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) were hospitalised.
Scotland’s bin strikes will create ‘playground for pests’ 04/07/2024 Residents in council areas that will be affected by the summer bin strikes in Scotland have been asked to take ‘reasonable steps’ to avoid attracting pests.
Middlesbrough to trial auto-enrolment for free school meals 28/06/2024 Eligible children in Middlesbrough will be automatically signed up to receive free school meals from September.
Warwickshire staff miss 15,000 days due to poor mental health 21/06/2024 Poor mental health was the biggest reason for sickness absence at Warwickshire County Council last year, a report has revealed.
Council to restrict new takeaway sites 20/06/2024 New measures to limit the development of new hot food takeaway sites have been introduced by Newcastle City Council.
Labour plan to reduce delayed discharges 20/06/2024 Labour is reportedly planning to buy thousands of beds in care homes in an effort to reduce the problem of delayed discharges in hospitals.
Decades of ‘neglect’ have left children shorter and overweight 19/06/2024 Children in England are getting shorter, more obese and sicker because of poor diets, food insecurity and poverty, health experts warn.
Call for urgent action on childhood obesity 18/06/2024 ‘Urgent and decisive’ action is needed to combat rising levels of childhood obesity, a public health director has argued.
More than 900 public football pitches lost since 2010 12/06/2024 With the European Championships kicking off tomorrow, a trade union has revealed that 926 public football pitches have been lost in the UK since 2010.
EXCLUSIVE: Whitehall warning over 'heightened' care provider failure risk 06/06/2024 The risk of adult social care provider failure is ‘currently heightened due to additional pressures in the market,’ a Whitehall document has warned.
Liverpool to spend £2m to reduce smoking 30/05/2024 Liverpool City Council is set to spend almost £2m on a new tobacco control strategy.